Hello everybody.I need advice from anyone who happened to visit previous years of this chocolate event, or someone who knows more (anything) about 2009 Salon du Chocolat exhibition.It seems there are two following events:14-16. October 2009 Salon du Chocolat Professionnel and 13.-18. October 2009 Salon du Chocolat. It is the same venue, but is it the same thing?My main reason for going is to gain new contacts/info as I have a shop with artisanal chocolate in Slovakia and I'm new to this business. However, I can only go for 2-3 days, when is it best to attend, which event etc.?Or perhaps someone more experienced than I could suggest a worthwhile event in 2009/2010 in Europe?Do please write, I'm a bit stuck about booking the tickets- I want to learn as much as I can, but I don't want to waste my time/money....Many thanks, Ivica
updated by @ivica: 04/13/15 01:53:57

Ivica:The organization of the Salon du Chocolat sites is (and always has been) confusing, I have to agree, but here's what's up:The Professionnel Salon appears to be a two-day bi-annual fair-within-a-fair aimed specifically at the industry. It overlaps the annual general consumer fair, which lasts five days.Whether or not this event is of value to you is largely dependent on the companies who will be exhibiting. However you schedule your trip, should you decide to go, just make sure that it overlaps the two days of the professional event. You can go to both days of that and one day of the consumer show.The only other similar event is Eurochocolate which is in Perugia, which starts - believe it or not - on the 16th of October. This show lasts over a week. Again, take a close look at the list of exhibitors before making up your mind.:: Clay


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clay - http://www.thechocolatelife.com/clay/

Clay, thanks a lot. Yes, I saw that Eurochocolate is at the same time- quite anoying.Regarding the Salon du Chocolat, I've tried to find the list of exhibitors, but no luck so far.Have you been to any of these fairs?Cheers, ivica

Only the ones in the US which are much, much smaller than their Parisian counterparts so there is no comparison.


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clay - http://www.thechocolatelife.com/clay/

Hello Ivica and Clay,From what I have heard you are right Clay. For the first time I am going to attend the Salon in Paris. As soon as I find out more details I will let you know.I am a cocoa grower from Brazil and want to get new contacts/info also as you Ivica. It would be nice if we could meet there.Clay are you going to attend it? Do you know of any other members who are planning to attend?It would be nice to meet face to face and exchange ideas.Lola Gedeon

Jim, if I do go to Paris, I'd be delighted to meet you! Thanks for replying.Clay, I see you're going to Eurochocolate, why did you choose this one? I must say, I find their website also pretty impossible to navigate (I'm beginning to wonder if it is me?!).... that is if I visited the correct one www.eurochocolate.com .Have you seen the list of exhibitors?--------------I do hope there is someone among the members who can tell us more about the exhibitions?Best, Ivica

Ivica:Truth to tell the major reason is that I've been to Paris (though not the show) and I've never been to Perugia. Also, the international marketing manager for Eurochocolate is a member of TheChocolateLife and even though I have known the organizers of the Salon du Chocolat since the first event, they have never reached out to me.In fact, what will probably happen is that I will arrange a trip that takes me to Perugia, Paris, and London if I can afford it.:: Clay


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Jim:If I end up making the trip I will probably (as I explained below) make the opportunity to visit Paris as well as London. In which case let's definitely plan to meet. I have someone for you to send sample beans to, I'll get that to you privately.:: Clay


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Clay, thanks so much for your response and I do hope it is help to other members not just me.Would it be too much trouble for you or the international marketing manager for Eurochocolate to please paste a link where I could view the list of exhibitors? I simply cannot find it on the website. I can't be too early for such a list, or is it?Also as such a first-hand-knowledge person is a member of this forum, perhaps they could write a little bit about Eurochocolate?....I wouldn't mind swapping Paris for Perugia Cheers, Ivica

Hello,Thank you Clay for answering. I'm new to this network and still discovering, but you answered better than I would do.About the website, I know it can be very confusing, we're working on a fresh and easier version for the end of the year, after the Paris Show.You'll find the list of exhibitors for the consumer show here : http://www.salonduchocolat.fr/home.php?titre=1&id_code=3&ca... and the list of exhibitors for the professional show here : http://www.salonduchocolatprofessionnel.com/uk/visiter.php I Hope it can help.Genaro

Genaro, thank you very much for putting the links here- great help!Does anyone have more info on EUROCHOCOLATE?Cheers, Ivica

Dear Ivica,I'm Anna Franceschini Eurochocolate International and FairTrade Officer. How can I help you to find info about Eurochocolate ?Are you a consumer? chocolate specialist ? maitre?This is the link where you can find the expositors list of 2008 Eurochocolate commercial area ( called Chocolate show) http://www.eurochocolate.com/it/perugia2008/chocolateshow.html? You can find also more on my page on the chocolate life.Anyway, I will tell you more about the festival.From 1994 Perugia City center host on the second half of october ( this year from 16th to 25th) the chocolate event most famous in Italy and one of the most important in Europe.The format is:A chocolate selling area ( called Chococolate Show) a big opean air selling exposition with the most representative chocolate italianartesanals firms and multinational firms among whose: CApitano rosso ,de bondt, dolcevita, vanini, drei maister, giraudi,l'albero degli dei,maestrani,piluc,coppeneur...Eurochocolate world - special section dedicated to cocoa producers country with expo and selling corner of fairtrade chocolate and atresanals chocolate came from ghana , ecquador, Indonesia, peru..ecc.Master an d courses for professionalsSpecial events dedicated to chocolate as chocolate sculptures live, chocotasting,Dabates and meetings.please visit my page.Best regards

Hi Anna, I'm really glad that you responded- thanks so much! Could you add a bit more info on the courses you mention?I'll look at your page...THANKSIvica

It may be fun if those of us going could plan a time to meet if scheduling permits.CheersRobert

Oooh! That'd be fun. My husband and I will be doing a detour to Eurochocolate during our Italy trip as well.

Clay,I am looking forward to receiving the names/e-mail regarding bean samples. We are still on for Paris but each day the dollar is weakening and travel out of Brasil is really becoming a budget problem. We have lost 35% of the dollars value this year....B RegardsJim

Hi Robert, which event are you attending?Ivica

Hi to all hoping to attend Salon du Chocolat!Is anyone visiting on 14th and/or 15th of October?Clay suggested "meeting up in {an Hotel called} Pavillon Porte de Versailles (37, rue du Hameau) which is just off the Rue de Vaugirard and the Porte de Versailles metro stop and within a couple of minutes' stroll of the Expo Center where the Salon du Chocolat is being held.I will be in the lobby of the hotel on Friday morning, October 16th, from 8:00am on to meet with everyone who wants to gather and have a coffee or chocolat chaud before heading over to the show to be there for the opening bell".I personally can't make that Friday morning, but would be very happy if anyone visiting the two previous days wanted to meet.Cheers, Ivica

Hi Folks,Not sure about Paris yet but I am going to Perugia for Eurochocolate and it would be good to meet any other listers. I'm there Staurday to Saturday and my scehdule is pretty flexible.Regards,Duffy

We could also meet the morning of the 15th if that works better for everyone.


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Duffy:I am arriving on the 17th in Perugia and leaving on the 21st. Not exactly sure of the lay of the land yet but will keep you informed).:: Clay


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updated by @clay: 06/15/15 10:40:41

Clay, that would be great! I'm all for it. Hope more people will be there...

Ivica.Jim is not going to be able to break away for the event but I will be there in his place. I'm the Brazilian wife and will be there as a representative of the Brazilian Agriculture group from the cacau region of Bahia. We have an area reserved in the show and will have samples and literature available. I would be very happy to meet with you, Clay and others on the 15th. I assume the location and time of day remain fixed.LolaIf you need other information you can contact me e-mail lolacacau@yahoo.com

Hi Lola, I'd delighted to meet you. I'll look out for you at the Salon!Let's see if Clay confirms the date for our morning rendezvous as the 15th, i.e. Thursday. I'm keen and would like to come...Ivica

The 15th it is. Same hotel, same time.


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clay - http://www.thechocolatelife.com/clay/

Hi Anna,I am travelling to Perugia in order to attend your show. Will I need any documentation to get into the "Eurochocolate World" section? I have just set up a business producing chocolate and would like to meet some cocoa producers.Regards,Duffy

Lana:The Professional Salon takes place every other year. So, the next is in 2011. The next World Chocolate Masters will take place in 2011 - maybe at the professional salon, maybe not.The exhibitors are a mix of industrial chocolate makers, growers associations, equipment makers, and the like. If you are looking for inspiration by looking at others' work then the consumer show is where you should spend your time.You can see all you need to see at the consumer salon in at most two full days - one if you really hurry and don't spend any time talking to anyone; just looking. There is not a lot of free tasting going on. However, not everyone involved in chocolate in Paris (let alone France) exhibits at the salon so you'll want to spend at least a couple of days in Paris on your own visiting shops around the city.:: Clay


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